A split Fairfax County Planning Commission voted last night (Wednesday) to recommend requiring future electrical substations to be built at least 200 feet away from residential property lines.
The commission narrowly supported a 200-foot setback as one of four options on the table. County staff had recommended 100 feet, while some commissioners proposed 150 or 300 feet.
Braddock District voters will soon select their next representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Early voting in the race begins tomorrow (Friday), giving residents more than six weeks to cast their ballots before the special election on Dec. 9.
Don’t just visit the Chesapeake Bay
Explore, unwind, and create memories on the water.
Imagine a Saturday morning on the water. Coffee on the dock as Annapolis wakes up. Cruising by historic waterfronts. Anchoring in a quiet cove with friends and family. Enjoying dinner at a waterfront restaurant before heading back as the sun sets over the harbor.
That’s the Chesapeake lifestyle.
With miles of shoreline, charming waterfront towns, protected waters, and endless places to discover, the Bay offers a unique combination of adventure and accessibility. It feels like a getaway, but it’s closer than you think.
Every fall, the Annapolis Powerboat Show brings that lifestyle to downtown Annapolis.
From October 8–11, City Dock transforms into a waterfront experience where visitors can step aboard hundreds of boats, explore the latest innovations, meet boating experts, and discover what life on the water could look like.
You don’t have to own a boat to enjoy the show. You just have to be curious.
Find Your Place on the Water
The Annapolis Powerboat Show is your chance to explore the many ways to enjoy the Chesapeake.
Looking for a way to spend weekends with family and friends? Explore spacious pontoon boats and deck boats built for relaxing, entertaining, and making memories on the water. Interested in adventure? Discover center consoles designed for exploring, fishing, and cruising the Bay’s many destinations. Dreaming about longer escapes? Step aboard cruisers and yachts built for comfortable weekends and extended adventures.
Every boat offers a different way to experience the water. The show gives you the opportunity to see them all in one place, compare options, ask questions, and imagine what your own Chesapeake adventures might look like.
More Than a Boat Show
The Annapolis Powerboat Show is about more than boats. It’s about the people, places, and experiences that make life on the water special.
Spend the day exploring the docks, then continue your Annapolis adventure beyond the show grounds. Enjoy waterfront dining, browse local shops, stroll historic streets, and take in views of one of the most beautiful harbors on the Chesapeake. Meet passionate boaters, connect with marine experts, discover new products and innovations, and experience the energy of Annapolis’s signature fall events.
From first-time visitors to longtime boating enthusiasts, there is something new on every dock.
Discover How Easy It Is to Get Started
Not a boater yet, and not sure where to begin? The Annapolis Powerboat Show makes the first step easier by giving you the chance to learn, ask questions, and experience life on the water firsthand.
Explore educational opportunities designed for every level of interest. Attend free seminars led by boating experts, learn more about navigation and safety, and discover resources that will help you feel comfortable on the water.
Visitors may also experience boats in action at the PropTalk Demo Dock, where select models are available for on-water sea trials. For those looking to build their skills, BoatUS on-water training offers hands-on instruction to help new boaters gain confidence at the helm.
The Annapolis Powerboat Show is more than a place to see boats. It’s a place to explore the boating lifestyle.
Your Next Adventure Is Waiting
The Chesapeake Bay offers endless ways to make the water part of your life.
A quiet morning cruise. A waterfront lunch. An afternoon anchored with friends. A new hobby waiting to be discovered. The Annapolis Powerboat Show brings those possibilities together in one unforgettable weekend.
Come curious. Walk the docks. Step aboard. Experience the boating lifestyle for yourself.
With the holiday shopping season on the horizon, Tysons Corner Center is continuing to stay busy, welcoming a number of new retail stores in recent weeks and hinting at more still to come.
The clothing brand Reformation, which prides itself on its sustainable practices, is opening its doors this morning (Thursday) on the mall’s second floor at Unit E001U, near the Apple store and Nespresso.
We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes.
Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.
Spooky season is upon us, and Fairfax County has no shortage of events to check out as Halloween approaches.
Upcoming festivities at local libraries, parks and neighborhoods range from parades and costume contests to pumpkin patches, races and more.
Come join Reflex Improv as we celebrate 10 years of laughs on Saturday, September 19 at 7pm. The improvised comedy show starts at 7pm and runs between 90 minutes and two hours. The show is open to all-ages, however the content may be adult in nature at times, so parental guidance is highly suggested.
Reflex Improv offers beginner and advanced classes across northern Virginia (Arlington, Chantilly, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Reston) and Annapolis. The next session begins 9/10!
The first phase of work is underway in the redevelopment of Isaac Newton Square, an office park in Reston that will be transformed into a mixed-use neighborhood in phases over the next 20 years.
Work started at the end of September at the northern end of the site to preserve a line of willow oak trees located along Isaac Newton Square North near Wiehle Avenue. Improvements to streets and infrastructure, such as stormwater facilities, utilities and bioretention facilities, are also in the works.
Police Wrap Up Traffic Safety Campaign — “The Fairfax County Police Department has concluded the 2025 ‘Road Shark’ campaign, issuing nearly 50,000 citations and warnings to dangerous drivers on Fairfax County roadways over the last five waves. This represents a 43% increase from 2024.” [FCPD]
Region Braces for Loss of Food Benefits — “In days, the impacts of the government showdown could go from bad to much worse after the Department of Agriculture said it doesn’t have enough money to pay for SNAP Benefits or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in November … Stephanie Berkowitz with Northern Virginia Family Services says the impact of losing SNAP, even for a month, can’t be overstated.” [NBC4]
Local GOP Takes Issue with Absentee Ballots — “Fairfax County Republican leaders are raising concerns about ballot privacy after discovering a hole punched in absentee ballots could reveal a voter’s decision … Fairfax County election officials are now giving tips on their website about how to properly secure the ballot.” [NBC4]
Man Posing as Firefighter Arrested — “A 28-year-old Manassas man who was posing as a Washington, D.C. firefighter was arrested after he tried to enter a Fairfax City fire station on [Oct. 15], according to police.” The man was charged with impersonating a firefighter and being drunk in public. [Patch]
State Legislators Debate Gambling Expansion — “Virginia began legalizing casinos in 2020 with the first wager cast in 2022 … While recent gambling revenue numbers have dipped across the state, elected officials are holding judgement as more casinos and gambling alternatives are expected to be considered under the new state gambling authority.” [WVTF]
Virginia Reviews Special Education Compliance — “A Virginia commission on Tuesday unanimously accepted a study recommending that policymakers separate the Parent Ombudsman for Special Education’s office from the Virginia Department of Education to improve its ‘neutrality and public trust.'” The study was ordered after “years of ongoing complaints and a federal investigation” into the state’s system for resolving special education-related conflicts. [Virginia Mercury]
Capital One Reports Turnaround After Merger — “Three months after disclosing a $4.3 billion loss, Capital One’s profit jumped 80% year-over-year in the third quarter. Its revenue surged 53%. And its net interest income rose 54%, according to an earnings report released Tuesday.” The boost came after the financial corporation closed a $35 billion acquisition of rival Discover in May. [Banking Dive]
UVA Complies with Trump Admin Demands — “The University of Virginia has agreed to abide by White House guidance forbidding discrimination in admissions and hiring, becoming the latest campus to strike a deal with the Trump administration as the college tries to pause months of scrutiny by the federal government.” [Associated Press]
It’s Thursday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 62 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 7 to 14 mph and gusts reaching up to 23 mph. For Thursday night, the skies will be mostly clear with the temperature dropping to around 41 degrees, and a northwest wind blowing at 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]
Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 22, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high of 61 degrees, accompanied by a west wind ranging from 8 to 13 mph and gusts reaching 24 mph. Tonight, look forward to clear skies and a low of around 40 degrees, coupled with a 5 to 7 mph west wind. See more from Weather.gov.
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Efforts to expand Bunnyman Brewing‘s footprint at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton are officially on the move.
DrinkLocal LLC, which operates Bunnyman Brewing, has received approval for a lease to control a second storefront across from its existing bar, bringing another dining option to the campus.
Retail activity was booming in Tysons for the first half of this year, surging past pre-pandemic levels, the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) found in a recent report.
Released last month, the retail-focused market report for the second quarter of 2025 offered some positive economic news for Fairfax County at a time when the federal government shutdown and rising unemployment have kept the larger D.C. region on edge.
